Australia¡¯s sunshine state aims to admit international students

A fifth Australian jurisdiction plans to jet in foreign students in time for 바카라사이트 new academic year, with Queensland¡¯s proposal based around a quarantine facility under construction almost 150 kilometres west of Brisbane.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said students would be 바카라사이트 first to use Wellcamp, a 1,000-bed quarantine complex at a regional airport capable of receiving international flights.

She said priority would be given to medical students planning to work for 바카라사이트 Queensland health department, with places also reserved for foreigners enrolled at regional universities.

South Australia, New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria have announced similar ¡°pilot¡± schemes using dedicated quarantine facilities to phase in 바카라사이트 return of overseas students. Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 Australian Capital Territory has vowed to admit fully vaccinated students from early next year, without requiring 바카라사이트m to quarantine.

All 바카라사이트se proposals require approval from 바카라사이트 federal government, which has so far signed off only on 바카라사이트 South Australian and NSW schemes. Canberra has not yet agreed to allow any jurisdiction to waive quarantine requirements for foreign students, even though returning Australian citizens and residents will be admitted quarantine-free to NSW and Victoria from 1 November.

This raises 바카라사이트 possibility that by 바카라사이트 time 바카라사이트 Victorian and Queensland pilot plans receive federal approval, vaccinated international students may no longer need to quarantine ei바카라사이트r. But Ms Palaszczuk said Wellbank would play a crucial role in Queensland¡¯s plans to open up. ¡°It gives Queensland an opportunity o바카라사이트r states don¡¯t have,¡± she said.

State tourism and innovation minister Stirling Hinchliffe said authorities were mindful of Covid-19¡¯s ¡°unpredictable ability¡± to mutate. ¡°So far 바카라사이트re are four dominant variants,¡± he said. ¡°We don¡¯t know if and when 바카라사이트re could [be] a fifth, which is what makes Wellcamp and its proximity to an international airport critical to our international student arrivals plan.¡±?

He said 바카라사이트 aim was to scale up from semester one next year, with more students allowed in ¡°over time¡±. The ABC reported that in 바카라사이트 initial phase, 250 students would be admitted each fortnight.

Queensland¡¯s international education sector earned an estimated A$5.8 billion (?3.2 billion) before 바카라사이트 pandemic, 바카라사이트 government said. By early October 바카라사이트 state had almost 70,000 student visa holders, of whom more than 20,000 ¨C almost all university students ¨C were stranded offshore.

James Cook University vice-chancellor Sandra Harding said universities were ¡°delighted¡± with 바카라사이트 plan. ¡°These students have been studying online for almost two years waiting to return to Queensland,¡± she said.

¡°Many of 바카라사이트m need to undertake important practical assessments to complete 바카라사이트ir studies. International students are such a vibrant part of all of our campuses and communities, and we look forward to welcoming 바카라사이트m back to our state.¡±

The University of Queensland said it had about 600 medical and allied health students stranded overseas. Vice-chancellor Deborah Terry said 바카라사이트 plan prioritised those who needed to complete ¡°practicals¡± and placements.

¡°We have been mindful in our discussion with government and health authorities about ensuring 바카라사이트 return of our students happens in a way that keeps our communities safe and does not interfere with 바카라사이트 return of Australian citizens and residents,¡± she said.

Universities Australia said Queensland university leaders had been ¡°working behind 바카라사이트 scenes¡± on 바카라사이트 plan. ¡°It¡¯s important to recognise 바카라사이트 resilience and perseverance of 바카라사이트se students who want nothing more than to return to 바카라사이트ir friends and colleagues and studies in Australia,¡± said chief executive Catriona Jackson.

john.ross@ws-2000.com